Finding the right product to sell on Amazon is a make-or-break decision. The data-driven insights from Jungle Scout give you an invaluable edge in objectively evaluating opportunities.
To make the most of it, you need to be able to distinguish the cookie-cutter searching techniques from the true hidden gems.
This guide outlines methods we’ve done over the years and illuminates the methods that have a better chance of finding products truly worth selling.
What Is a “Good Product to Sell on Amazon”?
Naturally, before you even begin looking, you need to know what you’re looking for. Based on our tests, we often aim for a combination of these qualities when brainstorming product ideas:
|
Category |
Recommendation |
|
Price Point |
Between $19-$70 |
|
Demand/Revenue |
At least $6,000 in monthly revenue, with top sellers doing much more; sells at least 300 units per month |
|
Competition |
Around 100 to 1000 reviews for less competition; not dominated by one brand |
|
Market Characteristics |
Multiple competing brands, indicating consumers are not brand loyal |
|
Product Quality |
Lower ratings (like 4 stars or even 3 stars) suggest room for improvement |
|
Product Complexity |
Simple or hard to get wrong are preferred |
|
Branding Opportunity |
If competitors have weak branding, there’s a chance to stand out |
|
Ease of Sale |
Not bulky and fragile |
|
No Legal Issues |
Steer clear of patented items |
Two Proven Methods to Unearth Amazon Gold with Jungle Scout
The Good, Old Product Database Method
This is the standard, safe method that still works to this day. Right off the bat, our problem with it is that it doesn’t really make you stand out from others doing the same technique. Plus, you could miss a lot of the hidden gems we mentioned.
Even though it's not perfect, it continues to help us unearth potential goldmines. Here’s how it goes:
- First, select the Amazon categories you want to focus on. Most of the time, we take Lawn & Garden, Industrial, and Tools, but it’s up to you. As much as possible, we tick the ones with less competition.
- Next, set filters for essential criteria. In our case, we’re usually comfortable with the following setup:
- Price – starts at $19 (because there are products out there that sell for $19.99) up to $70
- Number of Reviews – no more than 1,000
- Minimum Revenue – at least $6,000 to $9,000
- Rating – leave blank so you cast as wide a net as possible
- Weight – 3 or 5 pounds (to rule out all the heavy and expensive to ship products)
- Click “Search” and browse the filtered products. Click on “View on Amazon” to evaluate the product listings.
- Refine and experiment with different filters to narrow down your options. The database makes it easy to filter and identify potential products – use that to your advantage.
- If you see the same products repeatedly, add a filter to exclude them. Keep tweaking until you find a product you like.
- Now, search Alibaba to estimate your landed product cost. Input this into Jungle Scout's FBA Profit Calculator along with your selling price to estimate profitability.
Aim for around 100% ROI accounting for:
Landed costs: Product cost, shipping, duties, etc.
Amazon fees: Referral, FBA, storage, subscription fees.
The Rabbit Hole Method
This method makes a difference in a very good way because it’s the complete opposite of the first method. You get to hunt for hidden goodies while straying away from the steps almost everyone follows.
This is how it works:
- Start with a random keyword.
Use a dictionary, word generator site, or other source to find a random word or phrase.
- Search that keyword in Jungle Scout’s Keyword Scout tool.
This will generate a list of more specific long-tail keywords related to your original keyword.
- Scan the keyword list for promising product opportunities.
Let’s say your original word was "pet". Some keywords like "pet carrier" or "pet bed" might stand out.
You could then search for "pet carrier" on Amazon and evaluate the different products that come up. Open some product pages in new tabs to inspect further. If that niche seems too saturated, go back to your list and try "pet bed" instead.
Search for that keyword, use Jungle Scout to analyze the market, and see if any particular pet bed stands out as a potential opportunity.
- Assess products for metrics like reviews, quality, and private label potential.
If a product niche seems too competitive or saturated, go back and try a different keyword from the list.
Once you find a specific product that seems promising, identify the most relevant keyword that brings up only that type of product when searched on Amazon.
- Filter Amazon search results to your target product.
Search that exact keyword on Amazon and use the Jungle Scout Chrome extension to pull up the full list of products. Sort them by Best Seller Rank. Exclude the ones with a low rank.
Go through the list and delete any products that aren't directly related to the specific product type you're analyzing.
- Verify if the market is good and if you could brand it yourself.
Use the filtered Jungle Scout data to evaluate factors like price, demand, and competition for that particular product niche.
If it still seems like a viable opportunity, consider sourcing and private labeling your version of that product.
Conclusion
The second method may require more time, but it undeniably offers more flexibility and focused analysis. It does require you to have a solid grasp of product evaluation.
We hope that with the criteria we shared, you’ll have an easier time beginning your search. Don’t hesitate to use the two methods! We’ve lessened the chances of overlooking profitable niches that way.
Ultimately, succeeding on Amazon is about finding the ideal balance of strong demand, reasonable competition, and product uniqueness. With Jungle Scout, doing that is easier and more effective than ever.